WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — In kitchens across the nation, a diet staple is becoming a luxury item. The price of eggs has soared recently, with industry experts blaming the bird flu. This highly contagious virus, which has swept through poultry farms nationwide since 2022, has led to the killing of millions of egg-laying hens, leaving suppliers struggling to meet demand. Cats can carry bird flu: What to watch for According to the USDA, nearly 60 million birds have been affected by the outbreak since early 2024. As a result, the price of eggs has climbed to record levels. In Texas, infected backyard flocks have been detected since 2022. Still, late last year, experts discovered the first case in a commercial operation, resulting in the loss of about 1.8 million laying hens. "So, as we've lost egg layers that are in production, then the number of eggs available for us to go to store and buy starts to decrease and then your eggs price starts to creep up," said Texas A&M veterinary medical lab Assistant Director Terry Hensley. In France, they have implemented a vaccine to help combat this, but it has yet to be rolled out in the U.S. "I think France right now is the only major country utilizing that vaccine," Hensley explained. "I think — more than potential side effects to the bird — I think right now it's looking at what kind of international trade restrictions might be placed on us or any country that chooses to utilize that vaccine." As bird flu continues to stay consistent, experts hope that we may see some relief in prices by the end of the year. Despite the concerns about the bird flu, the risk of humans becoming infected is rare and the USDA assures all eggs in stores are safe to eat.